Gert Fredriksson, 86; Canoeist Won Six Olympic Gold Medals

Gert Fredriksson, 86, the most successful male canoeist in Olympic history with six gold medals in four Games, died Wednesday at a hospital in his hometown of Nykoping, Sweden, after a long battle with cancer.

Fredriksson earned his first Olympic medals at the 1948 London Games, winning gold in the 1,000- and 10,000-meter kayak singles. His margin of victory in the 10,000 -- 30.5 seconds -- is the largest in the sport, according to the International Olympic Committee.

Fredriksson won six more medals -- four gold, one silver and one bronze -- at the next three Olympics, becoming the only Swede to win gold medals in four Olympics. He also won seven gold medals at the canoeing world championships and 71 individual and team titles in the Swedish championships.

Born Nov. 21, 1919, Fredriksson started canoeing as a youth.

Because the Olympics were suspended during World War II, he did not compete until the 1948 Summer Games.

Fredriksson’s Olympic medal tally in canoeing is surpassed only by Germany’s Birgit Fischer, who won eight gold and four silver medals in six Games.